Bipolar Disorder

When people hear the term “bipolar” they often wonder what it is, what causes bipolar, and how it is treated. What most people don’t ask is how many types there are. Many people don’t realize there are many complications that come along with bipolar disorder. What is bipolar? Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder characterized by extreme shifts in mood, as well as fluctuations in energy and activity levels. The disorder is a lifelong condition that can affect the way someone feels and behaves. Researchers thought bipolar was caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that can result in extreme shifts in mood: from manic highs to depressive lows. Mania is extreme happiness and high levels of energy, which is the complete opposite of depression. Depression is extreme low mood shifts. The American Psychological Association says that these emotional shifts can become so overwhelming that individuals may choose suicide. What causes bipolar disorder? There are many causes of bipolar disorder. The causes can range from genetics to the environmental factors of someone’s lifestyle. Genetics, biological traits, brain-chemical imbalances, hormonal problems and environmental factors all play a huge role in causing bipolar. The first cause of bipolar is genetics. People who have a blood relative that has had or does have bipolar disorder have a higher risk of developing it themselves. Scientists have not yet found which genes are involved with this disorder. Medical News Today states that “a study by an international team of scientists reported in the journal Neuron that rare copy number variants, and abnormal sequences of DNA, seem to play a major role in the risk of early onset bipolar disorder.”The second leading cause of bipolar is the biological traits of a person. Scientists believe that people that have bipolar disorder often have physical changes in the brain from that of a normal brain. The significance of these changes is still uncertain but may eventually…